https://www.litterboxcomics.com/

Over the next 30 days, Blinken and Austin said Israel must allow 350 aid trucks a day into Gaza. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said none have entered the strip in October so far and most aid organisations estimate that around 700 trucks a day are needed to meet basic survival needs.

The language in the letter suggests a tougher line than Washington has previously taken, although White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby insisted in a call with journalists on Tuesday that “the letter was not meant as a threat”. Kirby also added that it simply reiterated a position the administration had communicated to Israel in the past.

“From a humanitarian perspective, a 30-day deadline is basically a death sentence, especially for those in northern Gaza that are facing famine,” Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Middle East Eye.

With three weeks remaining until the US presidential election, Miller pushed back against suggestions that the timing of the letter was designed to shift attention to the new president-elect by the time the deadline arrives.

The US has spent much of the past year taking credit for what Palestinians say is highly inadequate aid reaching Gaza. The Biden administration attempted to build a humanitarian pier for goods off Gaza’s coast, but it failed and was dismantled due to weather conditions. It also tried airdrops, which proved deadly as recipients had to wade into deep water to retrieve the packages.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20873430

UN Women released a report highlighting the widening gender gap in social protection. The report reveals that an alarming two billion women and girls are without access to any form of social protection.

Despite some progress since 2015, gender disparities in social protection coverage have widened in most developing regions, suggesting that recent gains have disproportionately benefitted men.

The report paints a stark picture of gendered poverty, showing that women and girls are overrepresented among the poor at every stage of life, with the largest disparities seen during their childbearing years. Women aged 25 to 34 are 25 per cent more likely than men in the same age group to live in extreme poverty. Conflict and climate change continue to exacerbate this inequality, with women in fragile environments being 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty compared to those in stable regions.

Globally, over 63 per cent of women still give birth without access to maternity benefits. This lack of financial support during maternity leave, not only places women at an economic disadvantage, but also compromises their health and well-being as well as that of their children, perpetuating poverty across generations.

Via System32 Comics

Consider watching this video with FreeTube, a nifty open-source program that lets you watch YouTube videos without Google spying on your viewing habits!

Combined with Libredirect, which automatically opens youtube links in Freetube, it becomes really slick and effortless to use.

[alt text: text that says, "The last thing you see when your parachute fails to open". Below the text is a photo of the lid of a spice jar. The lid is labeled: "GROUND CUMIN".]

The Fabled Woods is a short narrative "walking simulator" that explores the lives of several strangers in the woods and how they're connected. While enjoying picturesque scenery and a short jaunt down a forested path, you're treated to the short tales of Larry, Sara, and Todd.

Larry suspects there's someone watching him in the woods, while Sara is investigating a crime scene in the woods.

As you listen to their individual stories, you'll get an option to "remember," which will turn everything dark red except for a glowing-red blood path pointing you toward an object. Taking hold of the object will take you to this dark floating path in a red sky, where you'll hear darker and more intimate details behind each person's life.

Todd's story will tie all the others together, explaining how each person is connected to each other. It's a pretty short game. While taking my time and exploring the beautiful imagery of the forest, it took me about an hour to complete. Most people say they're done in about 40 mins.

There were complaints on Steam that this game was way overpriced for its short and simple gameplay. The developers responded by permanently reducing the price. And it just so happens that it's currently 90% off right now, so if this sounds even remotely intriguing, you can get it for less than a buck until October 27th.

I always buy my Steam games on sale (which is how I could afford to buy over 3,500 of them over the years!) so I like to point out good deals if I find them. The story was mildly interesting at best, so it's definitely worth a buck. I probably wouldn't pay more than that, personally.

Maybes I missed the rule that says "Redditors that try to be helpful will be banned".